Monday, June 13 - Friday, June 17
Thursday
The personal narrative essay can give your reader a verbal picture of something from your life. Do you have a background story that is central to your identity? Share that story.
Discuss an accomplishment or event, that marked a transition in your life.
Recount an incident when you experienced failure. How did it affect you? What lessons did you learn?
Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there?Why is it meaningful to you?
Reflect on a time when you changed a belief or and idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
In a PNE, explore the complexity of an issue. Introspection, self-awareness and self-analysis are important here. And be careful with essays about the winning touchdown or tie-breaking goal. These sometimes have an off-putting "look how great I am " tone and very little self-evaluation.
Keep away from rants about global warming, abortion, etc.
A good essay on a person who influenced you does more than just "describe." Dig deeper and "analyse." Handle "hero" essays with care - avoid cliches. Also realize that the influence of someone doesn't need to be positive.
Things to avoid:
deadwood, repetition, BS, filler, fluff, extra words just there to pad out the word count
vague imprecise language such as "stuff" and "things"...
avoid cliches
Personal: point of view is first person, less formal than standard essay
Narrative: uses story or stories/anecdotes in the body, chronological order
Essay: has a thesis, has an intro, body, conclusion
Personal narrative essay story starters:
Wednesday
Tuesday
Monday
The personal narrative essay can give your reader a verbal picture of something from your life. Do you have a background story that is central to your identity? Share that story.
Discuss an accomplishment or event, that marked a transition in your life.
Recount an incident when you experienced failure. How did it affect you? What lessons did you learn?
Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there?Why is it meaningful to you?
Reflect on a time when you changed a belief or and idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
In a PNE, explore the complexity of an issue. Introspection, self-awareness and self-analysis are important here. And be careful with essays about the winning touchdown or tie-breaking goal. These sometimes have an off-putting "look how great I am " tone and very little self-evaluation.
Keep away from rants about global warming, abortion, etc.
A good essay on a person who influenced you does more than just "describe." Dig deeper and "analyse." Handle "hero" essays with care - avoid cliches. Also realize that the influence of someone doesn't need to be positive.
Things to avoid:
deadwood, repetition, BS, filler, fluff, extra words just there to pad out the word count
vague imprecise language such as "stuff" and "things"...
avoid cliches
Personal: point of view is first person, less formal than standard essay
Narrative: uses story or stories/anecdotes in the body, chronological order
Essay: has a thesis, has an intro, body, conclusion
Personal narrative essay story starters:
story starters:
dialogue
jump right in to action
raise a question
describe a scene
challenge a belief
Sample PNE. What would you score it? Remember high, medium, low
Here is the description of a 6
The six paper is superior and may draw upon any number of factors, such as maturity of style, depth of discussion, effectiveness of argument, use of literary and/or rhetorical devices, sophistication of wit, or quality of imagination. This composition exhibits an effective writing style and a sophisticated use of language. Despite its clarity and precision, this paper need not be error-free.
Prompt: Positive connections with older generations can enrich our lives.
It was a long walk up the hill to where my Great Grandmother had just moved. I was reluctant walking up that hill because I wasn’t sure as to whether I would like what I saw when I got to the top of it. Eventually I got to the top where the gates to Providence Home was. This was not my Great Grandmother’s house I grew up in, this was a care home for the elderly. Don’t get me wrong, it was a well-respected care home, I wouldn’t let my grandmother live in a shabby old age home. Although it was nice it wasn’t my Big Nonna’s house. I walked into the premises to find the woman that I wished to even be half of one day. The receptionist led me to the room where she was watching ‘The Price is Right.’ There sat my Great Grandmother with a look of confusion on her face. It had gotten worse, the Alzheimers. I was looking into the deep blue eyes of my Grandmother but she was looking into the eyes of a stranger. Words weren’t exchanged because my Grandmother no longer spoke thanks to the alzheimers. So I did what I did everytime I came to see my Big Nonna, I read to her. Sometimes I read the paper, sometimes stories from Chicken Soup, and other times just from magazines. It was the least I could do for the woman who had a big part in raising me. I read and my Grandmother listened. Even though I never got any feedback, I knew she was listening. Every week before and after that day I donated those two hours to my Big Nonna. No matter how boring and painful it was to sit there, no matter how many times I read the same stories, I wouldn’t give it up for the world. I know my not only my Grandmother, but I will always remember the memories that I made with her.
How about this one?
Positive connections with older generations allows people to enrich their lives in ways nothing else can. Positive connections can allow people to avoid certain hardships as well as make better decisions. Elderly people can offer advice and insight that is more useful than that found anywhere else. Firstly, Talking to someone of an older generation will quickly reveal some excellent advice that can be very easily applied to your own life. Only a person who has experienced hardships first hand will be able to offer the kind of advice which may one day save you from bankruptcy or save you from making a terrible mistake which may cost you your life. A wise man once told me, “Don’t marry until you have enough money and a house to live in.” Those are words which rang true and may one day save me from a world of trouble. Only a person with experience can offer this kind of advice. Secondly, Listening to the stories of past accomplishments of elderly people can trigger you to strive to be the best you can be. My grandfather was an immigrant from Denmark. He moved to Canada in his early twenties and started a business. He soon got married and had a family and in my opinion had made it. I strive to one day accomplish such feats in my own life. Elderly generations can offer some of the greatest inspiration in our lives. In conclusion, There is great wisdom behind that weathered and wrinkled face. It is just waiting to be tapped into and this can only be accomplished through positive connections. So make sure to speak with the older generations and let them offer you advice and stories of the past. It will better your life or maybe even one day save your life.
Here is the "6" we looked at in class
The gruff voice, the vanilla flavoured cigar smoke, the laugh always resulting in a hacking cough, these were the distinct memories of my grandfather. Perhaps what best described him was the vanilla flavour, plain and simple, exactly how he lived his life and interacted with everyone. I guess being born during a time of war will harden anyone’s emotions but was a joke, a giggle or a smile really that hard to ask for? And this was all before the cancer hit, attaching itself to his left like a lion to its prey. No matter how strong and sturdy he may have ached this was not a battle he was going to win via a stern look or raising of his voice. No matter how well I did in school or how many sports teams I captained he never once acknowledged my accomplishments. The one true thing in which he showed compassion for was football. “There’s nothing like giving up your heart and soul on every play and then to get right back up and it again” he told me once. This was perhaps the sole reason why I tried out my junior year, making the team and eventually winning Most Valuable Player honours. Once again I received little recognition from him. The severity of the caner grew by the day, and already viotile cough turned into a gut wrenching ordeal lasting minutes on end. I developed a deep sense of pity towards him although showing anything of the sort to his face was met with a swift “whatcha looking at kid.” As his days dwindled down my visits to the hospital increased, many times not even seeing him, merely to help my grandmother cope or drive other family members. His body mass dwindled as well, strong sturdy muscles giving way to useless fat and eventually skin and bones. He was now but a fragment of himself. Football, the one thing we shared, the one bond we had, was nearing the completion of its season. Thus the Super Bowl was upon us, an event my grandfather hadn’t missed in his lifetime. However this one, the nurses told him, was one he would have to miss. The dingy hospital of our small town did not provide the simple convenience of working lights let alone a television restricting any hope of him watching the game. This, I knew, was the last straw for my grandfather and he dwelved into deep depression knowing his end was soon. I also knew I couldn’t let this happen and immediately brought my laptop to his room the day of the big game and set up it up so he could watch his beloved sport one last time. There was no thank you or even a nod throughtout the game until the last seconds ticked away on the game clock. As I looked over to my dying grandfather I saw a man overcome with emotions. A small tear running down his face he croaked “I’m so proud of you.” And that’s all I ever needed.
Sample PNE. What would you score it? Remember high, medium, low
Here is the description of a 6
The six paper is superior and may draw upon any number of factors, such as maturity of style, depth of discussion, effectiveness of argument, use of literary and/or rhetorical devices, sophistication of wit, or quality of imagination. This composition exhibits an effective writing style and a sophisticated use of language. Despite its clarity and precision, this paper need not be error-free.
Prompt: Positive connections with older generations can enrich our lives.
It was a long walk up the hill to where my Great Grandmother had just moved. I was reluctant walking up that hill because I wasn’t sure as to whether I would like what I saw when I got to the top of it. Eventually I got to the top where the gates to Providence Home was. This was not my Great Grandmother’s house I grew up in, this was a care home for the elderly. Don’t get me wrong, it was a well-respected care home, I wouldn’t let my grandmother live in a shabby old age home. Although it was nice it wasn’t my Big Nonna’s house. I walked into the premises to find the woman that I wished to even be half of one day. The receptionist led me to the room where she was watching ‘The Price is Right.’ There sat my Great Grandmother with a look of confusion on her face. It had gotten worse, the Alzheimers. I was looking into the deep blue eyes of my Grandmother but she was looking into the eyes of a stranger. Words weren’t exchanged because my Grandmother no longer spoke thanks to the alzheimers. So I did what I did everytime I came to see my Big Nonna, I read to her. Sometimes I read the paper, sometimes stories from Chicken Soup, and other times just from magazines. It was the least I could do for the woman who had a big part in raising me. I read and my Grandmother listened. Even though I never got any feedback, I knew she was listening. Every week before and after that day I donated those two hours to my Big Nonna. No matter how boring and painful it was to sit there, no matter how many times I read the same stories, I wouldn’t give it up for the world. I know my not only my Grandmother, but I will always remember the memories that I made with her.
How about this one?
Positive connections with older generations allows people to enrich their lives in ways nothing else can. Positive connections can allow people to avoid certain hardships as well as make better decisions. Elderly people can offer advice and insight that is more useful than that found anywhere else. Firstly, Talking to someone of an older generation will quickly reveal some excellent advice that can be very easily applied to your own life. Only a person who has experienced hardships first hand will be able to offer the kind of advice which may one day save you from bankruptcy or save you from making a terrible mistake which may cost you your life. A wise man once told me, “Don’t marry until you have enough money and a house to live in.” Those are words which rang true and may one day save me from a world of trouble. Only a person with experience can offer this kind of advice. Secondly, Listening to the stories of past accomplishments of elderly people can trigger you to strive to be the best you can be. My grandfather was an immigrant from Denmark. He moved to Canada in his early twenties and started a business. He soon got married and had a family and in my opinion had made it. I strive to one day accomplish such feats in my own life. Elderly generations can offer some of the greatest inspiration in our lives. In conclusion, There is great wisdom behind that weathered and wrinkled face. It is just waiting to be tapped into and this can only be accomplished through positive connections. So make sure to speak with the older generations and let them offer you advice and stories of the past. It will better your life or maybe even one day save your life.
Here is the "6" we looked at in class
The gruff voice, the vanilla flavoured cigar smoke, the laugh always resulting in a hacking cough, these were the distinct memories of my grandfather. Perhaps what best described him was the vanilla flavour, plain and simple, exactly how he lived his life and interacted with everyone. I guess being born during a time of war will harden anyone’s emotions but was a joke, a giggle or a smile really that hard to ask for? And this was all before the cancer hit, attaching itself to his left like a lion to its prey. No matter how strong and sturdy he may have ached this was not a battle he was going to win via a stern look or raising of his voice. No matter how well I did in school or how many sports teams I captained he never once acknowledged my accomplishments. The one true thing in which he showed compassion for was football. “There’s nothing like giving up your heart and soul on every play and then to get right back up and it again” he told me once. This was perhaps the sole reason why I tried out my junior year, making the team and eventually winning Most Valuable Player honours. Once again I received little recognition from him. The severity of the caner grew by the day, and already viotile cough turned into a gut wrenching ordeal lasting minutes on end. I developed a deep sense of pity towards him although showing anything of the sort to his face was met with a swift “whatcha looking at kid.” As his days dwindled down my visits to the hospital increased, many times not even seeing him, merely to help my grandmother cope or drive other family members. His body mass dwindled as well, strong sturdy muscles giving way to useless fat and eventually skin and bones. He was now but a fragment of himself. Football, the one thing we shared, the one bond we had, was nearing the completion of its season. Thus the Super Bowl was upon us, an event my grandfather hadn’t missed in his lifetime. However this one, the nurses told him, was one he would have to miss. The dingy hospital of our small town did not provide the simple convenience of working lights let alone a television restricting any hope of him watching the game. This, I knew, was the last straw for my grandfather and he dwelved into deep depression knowing his end was soon. I also knew I couldn’t let this happen and immediately brought my laptop to his room the day of the big game and set up it up so he could watch his beloved sport one last time. There was no thank you or even a nod throughtout the game until the last seconds ticked away on the game clock. As I looked over to my dying grandfather I saw a man overcome with emotions. A small tear running down his face he croaked “I’m so proud of you.” And that’s all I ever needed.
Tuesday
- Look at some more sample compositions that received a “ 6" to pull out the evidence of quality. Differing opinions make life interesting;
- Hand-out copies of “Conventionally Speaking” - make a graphic organizer about your two novels. The rubric for this small, term novel assignment is on the blog.
Conventionally Speaking: Comparison of genre fiction and literary fiction
Using the article that we read (Conventionally Speaking) as a guide for your analysis, you must address the following questions.
1. How do language, structure and style differ in the two novels?
2. Explain how each text conforms to or challenges the conventions of a particular genre.
3. Analyze and evaluate how similar themes, issues and ideas are treated in the two different texts.
4. Compare and contrast the distinctive features of each genre by looking at the techniques and conventions that the authors must adhere to.
Monday
- Return Hamlet essays.
- Hamlet - self assessment - daily evidence of learning
- Composition section of the exam: Personal Narrative Essay.
- Review prompts - remember past exams have a theme that run throughout. Check what that is at the beginning of the exam.
- Look at sample compositions that received a "6" to pull out the evidence of quality.
Comments
Post a Comment